URI announces series of talks on Latin American women

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KINGSTON, R.I. -- February 18, 2004 -- The University of Rhode Island is holding a Colloquia on Latin American women this semester.

Rosa Maria Pegueros, associate professor of history and women’s studies program, coordinated the series. "I have long wanted to have a Latin American Studies Program here at the University. I thought this might be a way to spark interest in the idea, particularly with the increased number of Latin American students and of the Hispanic population in Rhode Island."

All programs are free and open to the public. All lectures are being held at 3:45 p.m. in the Dana Shugar Library of the URI’s Women’s Center, 22 Upper College Road, Kingston Campus. Here are the details:

Tuesday, Feb. 24: "Gender and Gentility in 20th Century Peru"
Speaker: Susana de los Heros is an associate professor in URI’s Department of Modern Languages who is researching how gender and language are interrelated. She will talk about the relationship of language, gender and the ideology of politeness in Peruvian Spanish.

Tuesday, March 23: "Latina Immigrants and Our Silent Killers"
Speaker: Vinnie Velazquez is program director of MAP Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitative Services, Inc. where she works with Latinas conducting HIV and substance abuse counseling as well as domestic abuse counseling. She has been a featured speaker at national conferences dealing with these areas.

Tuesday, April 6: "Women in the Contemporary Political Arena in Mexico" Speaker: Georgina Sánchez is an executive director-associate, Asesores Internacionales en Prospectiv, an independent Mexican consulting firm that produces prospective studies for decision-makers. Sánchez has had a distinguished 20-year career heading diplomatic and strategic plans.

Tuesday, April 30: "Trumping Rigoberta Menchu: Truth and Memories of the Guatemalan Civil War" Speaker Rosa Maria Pegueros will speak about Menchu, a Quiche Mayan and leading advocate of Indian rights who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992. Her autobiography speaks about the Guatemalan civil war that left 150,000 to 200,000 dead. Menchu has drawn controversy about her interpretation of the Mayan peasants to the revolutionary forces, but she has never lost credibility with her people.

The series is sponsored by the University’s Women’s Studies Program, Department of History, and the Department of Modern Languages. For more information about the series, call 874-4092.